title: The success of penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus.
abstract: We report the results, over a 20 year period up to 1989, of 201 penetrating keratoplasties in 198 eyes of 158 patients. The five year graft survival was 97%. A corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better was attained by 91%. The mean spherical equivalent refraction on removal of sutures was -2.68 Ds and the mean cylindrical correction was -5.56 Ds. The cumulative time to dispensing final refractive correction was 38 months for 90% of patients. Rejection episodes occurred in 20% of grafts and were associated with loosening of sutures and bilateral grafts. Atopic patients (28%) were not at greater risk from rejection. Graft refractive surgery was undertaken in 18% and, of these, 55% achieved 6/12 vision or better with an refractive correction which could be dispensed and tolerated within 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Pocklington Eye Transplantation Unit, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kirkness
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ficker
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity